by sanjosebarstool

SF Gate – A Pleasanton woman was convicted Monday by a federal jury on charges that she netted $5.9 million while running a fake university that was a front for foreign students seeking to establish U.S. immigration status.

Susan Su, 43, who operated Tri-Valley University in Pleasanton, was found guilty of wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit visa fraud, visa fraud, use of a false document, making false statements to a government agency, alien harboring, unauthorized access to a government computer and money laundering.

Su was remanded into custody by U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar in San Francisco pending her sentencing June 20.

Su accepted money from foreigners, mostly Indians, in exchange for what was purported to be tuition and fees for what was described as a “Christian higher education institution,” federal prosecutors said. She used proceeds from the scheme to buy commercial real estate, a Mercedes-Benz and numerous homes, including a mansion on the Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton.

Prosecutors said Indian nationals paid $2,700 a semester in tuition for visa-related documents that allowed them to live and work in the country on student immigration status.

Three purported university professors testified that they never allowed Su to use their credentials in connection with the institution, and many employees told the jury that the university “had no requirements for admission or graduation,” prosecutors said, adding, “Su routinely instructed her staff to fabricate fraudulent transcripts.”

The alien-harboring conviction stemmed in part from evidence showing Su had one of her student employees paint her house and move furniture, authorities said.

Four other defendants charged in the case – Vishal Dasa, Anji Reddy Dirisinala, Ramakrishna Reddy Karra and Tushar Tambe – each pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit unauthorized access of a government computer as part of “cooperation plea agreements,” court records show.

Susan Su coming in HOT from the east bay with some Asian on Asian crime! Pretty decent scam until that whole part about a bunch of these disgruntled C+ students from Mumbai wanting their cash back. Preying upon some kids that just wanna come here to learn? Nahhhh home girl, that shit ain’t right.

Have to say though, I know you want to come to the US of A pretty bad but applying to Tri-Valley University? That’s on you for getting scammed, bro. First test of getting a Visa? Don’t get scammed. It’d be one thing if this person worked at UC-Something, but nahhhh just scamming money from her house. Buying Benzes and what not. Can’t knock that hustle. What we can knock is having one of her “students” moving her furniture and painting her house. Always the most insignificant incident or person that causes all the dominoes to fall. Just pushed her luck too far.